You’re viewing an article from The Oklahoman's newsroom. Print subscribers have Full Access to a premium experience at Oklahoman.com.

Share “Fewer Oklahomans expected to seek handgun...”

Fewer Oklahomans expected to seek handgun permits this year

The number of applications for concealed or unconcealed firearms will likely dip after two record-breaking years of applications. More than 53,300 people applied for a handgun license in 2013, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

The number of Oklahomans applying for a handgun license is on track to dip slightly after two record-breaking years of applications, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

From Jan. 1 to June 30, nearly 22,400 people applied for a license to carry a firearm, concealed or unconcealed. In the same amount of time last year, nearly 37,000 applications were received.

For all of 2013, 53,385 applications were received and 60,628 applications were approved. The discrepancy is because several applications OSBI received in December 2012 did not get approved until 2013.

Nearly 46,500 applications were received in 2012.

“It kind of runs in cycles. Sometimes they’re up, sometimes they’re down. I think a lot of people have received those permits, and so now we will see a lot people eventually needing to renew those,” OSBI spokesman Gary Perkinson said.

However, more applications may start pouring in before a new law goes into effect Nov. 1.

House Bill 2874 modifies the state Self-Defense Act so handgun safety and training certificates will be valid for only three years from their issue dates.

Before, certificates did not expire.

Anyone who completed a state-certified training course more than three years ago from Nov. 1 and who has not submitted their application will have to retake the training course for a new certificate for their firearm license application.

“When it (House Bill 2874) was first publicized that was going to take effect on Nov. 1, there was an uptick in renewals and initial applications of that, and people are just trying to get it done,” Perkinson said.